Vault-cover



E. BUVRGER.

VAULT COVER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30.1917.

1377380&

Patented May 10, 192

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. BURGER.

VAULT COVER.

APPLICATlON FILED JUNE 30,1917. 1 377,802 Patented May 10, 1921. a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

KTE

QEFF@ ELLSWORTI-I BUBGER, OF BIDGEVIOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN AZBEASIVE IEETALS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, IN'. Y., A COEPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VA'ULT-COVEE.

Specfication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1921.,

To all w ?tom it may concemt:

Be it known that I, ELLswonrH Boneee, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ridgewood, Bergen County, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful linprovernents in Vault-Covers, of which the following is a specication.

The invention relates to vault covers; and, while it may be emb'odied in constructions adapted for various purposes, it is more particularly applicable to covers for coal vaults and elevator wells in sidewalks, and similar constructions. 4

Objects of the invention are to provide an improved Construction of the character referred to which shall have shields above and about the vault, when the cover is in open position, which said shields shall be self-looking; whose parte shall be so arranged that a loose hinge will be fornied between the cover proper and the fraine in which it rests; which shall be provided with positive protection against the dangers of the open vault, when the cover proper is in open position; which shall be proof against slipping or stumbling by pedestrians; which may be operated easily and quickly; which shall shed water from its surface and prevent same from leaking` into the vault; and which shall be simple, inerpensive and durable in construction and highly efiicient in operation. These and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part be more fully set forth in 'the following description.

The invention consists in the novel parts, improvements, combinations and features of Construction herein shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings, which are referred to hei-ein and form a part hereof, are illustrated several enbodiments of the invention, the same serving in connection with the description herein to explainthe principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan of a vault cover constructed in accordance with certain features of the invention, a part being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical central section of the cover illustrated in Figs. l and 2, showing the same in position in a sidewalk vault and in closed position; I Fig. 4: is a similar View showing the cover n raised or open position;

Fig. 5 is a top plan of a modification,

.one leaf or door of the cover being shown as in closed position and the other leaf in raised or open position;

Fig. 6 is a vertical central section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a detail, taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown in Figs. l to 4:, inclusive, thereof, a preferred emloodiment of the invention adapted for use in a sidewalk as a cover or passage leading to a coal cellar.

As shown, said cover comprises a frame 10' of suitable dimensions and preferably rectangular in form. To prevent stumbling by pedestrians the fraine is preferably set in the sidewalk with its outer edges flush with the surrounding pavement. e

To prevent lealrage of surface water into the vault below, preferably the frame 10 is formed with a slight upward slope from the outer edges, this formation being favorable to the shedding of any water falling upon the device. Further, in sidewallrs which have a sloping tendency from the rear to the front or gutter, the cover may be arranged with its rear surface or a portion thereof, preferably the inner edge of the frame, slightly elevated above the forward portion.

Further, to facilitate the shedding of water and preferahly and as shown, the frarne is forrncd with grooves ll therein, passages 12 affording intercommunication between said grooves ll. These grooves ll are preferably forrned in the sides and front of the frarne (see Fig. l) because of the slight elevation of the rear side of the france ahove-rnentioned. It Inay be noted here that while these uraining grooves are shown as formed in the france 10, if desired, they also be formed to any desired eXtent and throughout any portion of the surface of the entire cover.

While the device may be made of any suitalole materials, as steel or iron, preferably it is made of iron, and 'in order to prevent slip ping by pedestrians the iron is cast with abradant substances therein, the abradant substances rendering the cover more durable and furnishing a surface of non-slipping material. v

Means are provided for furnishing a seat for the cover member, which member will presently be described, and in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated' in the drawings the said frame 10 -is provided on its inner edge with an inwardly extending seat or ledge 13 which preferably extends about the entire inner perimeter of e the frame at its lower edge, the distance'be tween the upper edge of said ledge 13 and the top edge of the frame 10 being equal to the' thickness of the cover. p

A feature of the invention consists in providing a loose hinge for the cover member 10 and to this end and in the best embodiment of the invention said ledge 13 is recessed at the rear side of the frame and is semi-cylindrical in shape.

A cover member 14, preferably made of iron 'with abradant substan ces therein in the Same manner as frame 10, is arranged in the frame and rests upon the seat or ledge 13, and, as above stated, corresponds in thickness to the distance between the upper edge of the ledge 13 and the inner top edges of the frame 10 and hence its upper surface is fiush with the said inner edges of the frame 10. In area it equals substantially the space between the inner edges of the frame 10, and' thus, while being adapted to be readily raised and lowered from and to its seat on the ledge 13, it fits snugly in place and prevents any appreciable leakage of water into the vault below, further allusion to this latter feature presently being made. It will readily be seen that if the cover member 14 is lifted by its front portion, it Will swing or rock on its rear edge 16 in the rear portion 17 of the recessed ledge 13.

To prevent the cover member 14 slipping out of engagement wth the recessed ledge 17 during the raising and lowering Operations and ,to complete the loose hinge above mentioned, suitable means for coperating with said recessed ledge portion 17 are provided. Preferably and as shown, said means comprise a plurality of lugs 18 which are at tached to the under surface of the cover member 14 near its rear edge, each of said lugs being fashioned with a rearwardly eX- tending portion 19 curved so as slidably to engage the under surface of the ledge portion 17 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4). It will be seen that a loose hinge is thus formed and that the cover can only be removed from its engagement with the recessed ledge portion 17 by first lifting the cover from its seat and then withdrawing it. The recessing of the portion 17 of the ledge serves the further purpose of adapting said ledge to catch any water that may leak down between the contiguous edges of the frame 10 and the cover member 14. Also, the ledges extendng about the other three sides of the frame are preferably recessed in a similar manncr and will also catch any leaking water. For the purpose of conducting said water to a place of deposit, as a dry well, not shown, passages 20 are formed at suitable intervals in the ledges (see Figs. 6 and 7).

Means are provided for limiting the upward movement of the cover member 14, and preferably this means consists of a plurality of chains 21, each fastened at one end to the ledge 17 and at the other end to the cover member 14. The length of the chain is such as to permit the cover member 14 to be raised to a position slightly beyond a line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal aXis of the recessed ledge, all as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The chain performs the further function of Supplementing the loose hinge and forming a permanent fastening between the cover member 14 and the frame10. Additional means for limiting the opening movement of the cover member 14 will now be described in connection with another feature of the invention.

heans are provided for protecting pedestrians or objects from the dangers of the open vault, when the cover is in open posi-` tion, said means, as shown, comprising flanges or shields 22 dependin from the opposite sides of the cover mem er 14. Each of said shields is preferably made as large as the Construction of the cover and vault passageway will permit and is shaped so as to permit the raising and loweringof the same from and into the vault passageway, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. There also depends from the front portion of the cover member 14 a flange or shield portion 23, which, when the cover is raised to open position will form a top over the side shields, the cover and side and front shields thus forming a hood over the open vault and leaving an open front for thepassage of coal or other articles to the vault. A bar 24 connects the opposite shields 22 and lends rigidity to the hood. The top 23 is shown in 'full in Fig. 2.

Means are provided for looking the hood in its open position, said means, preferably and as shown', comprisng a bolt 25 slidably engaged in a rack 26 afiiXed to the lower portion of a side shield 22 and arranged normally to project from the outer edge of the shield 22 and over the upper edge of the recessed ledge 13, thus establishing and securing looking relation between the shield 22 and the ledge 13. A resilient latch 27 engages at one end the bolt 25 and is seall as clearly shown in Fig. e. To release the cover from its locking position it is only necessary to push the bolt 25 back against the force of the spring latch 27 to a distance sufiicientto free the bolt from engagement with the upper edge of the ledge 13. Obviously, the spring will be distorted by the resistance of the boss 23 in the passage to the rear of the bolt 25, and, when the bolt is released, the spring 27 will automatically restore the spring itself and the bolt to normal position. The outer edge of the bolt 25 is so shaped that upon lifting the shield 22 the bolt will be progressively driven rearwardly by the curved edge of the recessed ledge 13 until the bolt 25 reaches the upper edge of 'the said recessed ledge 13, when the bolt will snap into looking position. Tf desired, a similar looking device may be placed upon the other side shield 22.

As noticed above, additional means are provided for limiting the upward or opening movement of the cover member lt. The portion 29 of the shield 22 immediately below the looking attachment just described, projects beneath the ledge 13, the surface of the shield Contacting with the e ledge being shaped to' correspond thereto, as shown in Figs. 3 and et. Preferably, the other shield 22 is similarly shaped. Obviously, when the cover is raised to the full position it will be checked by the engagement of the portion 29 of the shield 22 with the under side of the ledge 13.

Means are provided for lifting the cover. As it is a merit of the cover that the entire upper surface thereof shall be practically level and thus aford no obstruction to pedes trians or traffic, the cover is made with a longitudinal depression 32 therein in the front portion thereof and apertures through the cover at the opposite ends of said depressed portion. A handle 33 extends the length of the saidlongitudinal depression and has bolts 3 1 depending a suitable distance through the apertures and beneath the cover. Each bolt has Secured thereon at its end a nut 35 so that when the handle 33 is lifted a certain distance the upper surfaces of each nut will engage with the lower surface of the cover surrounding the bolt, thus permitting the raising of the cover. For convenience in grasping the handle, which lies in its recess with its upper surface 'dush with the surface of the cover, a depression 36 is for-*med transversely to the longitudinal recess and at about the center thereof, the utility of this recess being obvious. When in closed position, the cover member 14 may be locked in any desired manner. A s shown, a ring bolt 37 is se cured to the under side of said cover at the center thereof and by means of this ring the cover may be fastened to a side of the vault by any suitable fastening means, not shown.

A modification of the invention suitable for a sidewalk elevator shaft is shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 Tn this form of construction the cover is divided into complementing leaves or doors 38 and 39, each door Operating on a side of the frame for the elevator shaft, and one of the doors, as shown, 39, having on its inner edge a fiange il which serves as a seat for the corresponding edge of the leaf 38. Each leaf also is provided with an additional chain 42 which acts as a liniiting and supporting member in the manner previously described. For convenience in handling the freight delivered to and from the elevator shaft, the said shields are omitted from this modification of the devce. Tt will be noted also that each leaf is made with an iron frame, having in cross-section alternate ridges 43 and furrows 4:4, bars of the abradant material being laid in the furrows and the whole presenting a level non-slipping surface, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Tt will be seen that a vault cover constructed in accordance with the invention as herein shown and described carries out the objects of the invention as herein set forth besides possessng other, advantages which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. i

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the precise Construction shown and described, as many changes may be made in the details thereof without departing from the main principles of the invention or sacrificing its chief advantages.

T claim l. A vault cover including, in combination, a frame having a ledge extending inwardly from one of its inner edges below the top surface thereof, and a cover member nested wholly within the frame and resting at one edge upon said ledge and adapted to' be rocked thereon to open and closed position, the said ledge being recessed in its top face to form a hearing for the edge of the cover member in its rocking movements.

2. A vault cover including, in combination, a frame having a ledge extendng inwardly from one of its inner edges below the top surface thereof, and a cover member nested wholly within the frame and resting at one edge upon said ledge and adapted to be rocked thereon to open and closed posi tion, the said ledge being recessed in its top face at the juncture of the frame and cover member to catch any water entering between said parte and to form a hearing for the edge of the cover member in its rocking movements.

3. A vault cover including, in combinetion, a frane having ledges eXtending inwardly from its inner edges below the top surface thereof, said ledges being recessed in their top faces to provide a continuous well about the inner perimeter of the frame, and a cover member nested wholly within the frame and supported on said ledges and adapted to be rocked to open and closed position on one of its edges upon the adjacent supporting ledge, the latter having itsrecess located in position to coperate with and form a hearing for the edge of the cover member in its rocking movements.

l. A vault cover including, in combination, a frame having a ledge extending inwardly from one of its inner edges below the top surface thereof, a cover member nested wholly within the frame and resting at one edge upon said ledge and adapted to be rocked'thereon to open and closed position, the said ledge being recessed in its top face to form a hearing for the edge of the cover member in its rocking movements, and means coperating with the cover member to maintain it in engagement with the recessed ledge during the rocking movements.

5. A vault cover including, in combination, a frame having a recessedledge' eX- tending inwardly from one of its inner edges, a cover member nested wholly within the frame and arranged to rock on one of its edges in said recessed ledge, and means carried by the cover member and arranged to engage the under surface 'of said ledge during the rocking movements of the cover member to maintain the parts in proper engagement. v

6. A vault cover including, in combina tion, a frame having a recessed ledge eX- tending inwardly from one of its edges, a cover member supported within the frame and arranged to rock on one of its edges in said recessed ledge, lugs carried by the cover member and arranged to engage the under surface of the ledge member during the greater portion of the rocking movements of the cover member to maintain the parts in proper engagement, and a chain connected to the cover member to maintain'it in engagement with the recessed ledge during the remaining portion of its rocking movements.

7. A vault cover including, in 'combination, a frame having a ledge extending in'- wardly from one of its edges, a swinging cover member supported within the frame with its free end resting upon said ledge, a shield depending from the cover, and a locking device carried by the shield and adapted to be moved across said ledge at a point above the same when the cover member is in open position to hold said member positively in such position.

8. A vault cover including, in combinetion, a frame having a ledge eXtending inwardly from one of its edges, a swinging cover member supported within the frame with its free end resting upon said ledge, a shield depending from the cover, and a spring actuated detent carried by the shield and adapted to snap across the said ledge at a point above the same when the cover member is in open position to 'hold said member positively in such position.

9. A vault cover including, in com'bination, a frame having a ledge extending inwardly from one of its edges, a swinging cover member supported within the frame with its free end resting upon said ledge, a shield depending from the cover, a stop piece carried by the shield and adapted to engage the underside of said ledge to arrest the cover member in open position, and a spring actuated detent also carried by the shield and adapted to snap across the upperside of said ledge when the cover member is arrested in open position` to lock it in such position. a

10. A vault cover including, in combination, a frame having on an inner edge a recessed ledge, a cover member arranged to rock on one of its edges in said recessed ledge, and a lug on said cover member arranged slidably to engage surface of said ledge, whereby a loose hinge is formed.

ll. A vault cover including, in combination, a frame having on an inner edge a recessed ledge, a cover member arranged to rock on one of its edges in said recessed ledge, and a plurality of lugs on said cover member arranged slidably to engage a surface of said ledge, whereby a loose hinge is formed.

12. A vault cover including, in combina-v tion, a frame having on an edge a recessed ledge, a cover member arranged to rock on one of its edges in said recessed ledge, and a lug on said cover: member arranged slidably to engage a surface of said ledge, whereby a loose hinge is formed.

13. A vault cover including, in combinetion, a frame having on an edge a recessed ledge, a cover member arranged to rock 011 one of its edges in said recessed ledge, and a plurality of lugs on said cover member arranged slidably to engage a surface of said ledge, whereby a loose hinge is formed.

In testimony whereof, I have, signed my name to this specification.

ELLSWORTH BURGER. 

